nishi chauhan upcycles old bottles for customizable animal lamp
awarded a red dot design award, the playful lighting device features the wood and lac turnery craft of channapatna in karnataka, india.
nishi chauhan upcycles old bottles for customizable animal lamp
all images courtesy of nishi chauhan
‘dunk’ is the latest creature to join nishi chauhan‘s ‘animal farm‘, a series of endearing and lovable animal lamps centered around the twin themes of craft revival and repurposing of used objects. these upcycled bottles visualize beast-like forms featuring the wood lac-turnery craft of channapatna in karnataka, india. the work was recently awarded a red dot design award, best of the best, 2014, in singapore.
the components laid out
according to chauhan, ‘the piece is a warm and friendly fantasy creature that tells us an intimate story with a simple and elegant style.’ its bold and symmetrical massings made from turned and lacquered timber accentuates the beautiful glass silhouette that construct its body. within this framework, a bulb provides a soft glow that lends a relaxing atmosphere to the surroundings.
the object with graphics from a catalogue
the product constitutes two distinct materials, glass and lumber, that grant shape and volume to the idea and make it conducive to the contemporary home environment. the first emanates a diffused light, while the second appears in the shape of a head, base, and legs that house the torso with a strong visual language of color, giving the piece further possibilities for expression and customization.
the work is a winner of red dot design award, best of the best, 2014
with minimal intervention from the creator and the manufacturer, waste is reborn as ‘dunk’. the project is an effort to move away from the back yard innovation image and tap into the good craftsmanship talent that india possesses. the object is not designed to stay still in one place, but to travel through rooms in the house or any other desired space, in a variety of situations and moods. naturally elegant in green, sharp and refined in black, warm and reassuring in ochre, bright and exuberant in red and orange, these five shades allow for everyone to choose their ideal lamp.
an unfinished dunk head
the wooden pieces shimmer from lacquer
reclaimed bottles, washed and ready for processing
variations and iterations
production
getting ready for assembly and finishing
achieving precision
the craftsman at work
designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
